(A.N. Alright, settle down! I know I have been slow with the updates, and I do apologize but my brain has fizzled out! I am writing and it all looks like a big giant steaming pile of dog crap to me. IT STINKS! I am erasing and rewriting and erasing and rewriting but it hasn't been coming out like I want it! I promise to get chapters out as quickly as possible, but that may be a week or two or(god forbid) even three or four. I KNOW! That is awfully long but I am really trying! I do have songs on the play list for this chapter and I LIKE them! Please review because it really does motivated me to write! Thanks so much, love you all, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!)
Disclaimer: Not my characters!
Rose's POV:
Video night at Edward's with Isadora, Emmett, myself, Edward, and Edward's lawyer date, Bella. It was like a weird double date with Isadora tagging along.
We were set to watch a movie with Isadora before she went to bed, then we had the 'grown up' movies we would watch after she was asleep. The whole thing seemed a little weird, but I suppose it was the same as Emmett and Edward having movie nights, but girls along for it. Emmett even brought sandwiches and beer to complete the night.
At the moment Edward was checking on a frozen pizza that was in the oven and Emmett was dancing with Isadora to a mix CD that he had made himself, full of oddball songs that were really only decent the first time you listened to them and even then decent was a stretch. Still, Emmett was amusing the hell out of Isadora as he sang the strange lyrics aloud and danced awkwardly with her.
Edward wouldn't let me help, or take over the cooking which made me laugh a little. He insisted that he didn't find it necessary, and that he was more than capable of pulling a pizza from the oven, but I think that was only half of it. I think he was also wanting to be able to say that he cooked the food tonight for Bella himself. I hope he was smooth enough with the ladies to know that popping a DiGiorno into the oven didn't really count as a romantic, home-cooked meal that he could woo the farer sex with, especially with his daughter, adopted brother, and temporary roommate there. Emmett sure, I could see him trying to do that, Edward on the other hand was too . . . classy. Yeah, Edward was way too classy for that.
Still, as much as I tried, the most I could pull off was refreshing people's drinks when they ran dry and that was nothing a trip to the fridge and a bottle opener couldn't handle. So instead I sat and watched as Emmett danced around the room awkwardly singing badly while Isadora tried to imitate every move. It was entertaining at least.
Before I knew what was going on, Emmett was in front of me tugging me up to him pulling me around the room and making me dance with him. Isadora got a kick out of it, enjoying Emmett hauling her Auntie Rose all over the place while she watched on clapping and swaying side to side.
Emmett was smiling widely down at me as he danced me around the room, his eyes gleaming. He was such a nice guy it was hard to be too annoyed with him. He made me happy, and that's all I could ask for from him.
"Auntie WOSE! AUNTIE WOSE!" Isadora giggled out following us around the room. "Uncle Emmett is good dancer. He wikes you! HE WIKES YOU!"
"Yeah I think you're right princess, at least about liking me," I said, smirking up at Emmett who feigned hurt.
"Why, Rose, you hurt me," he said dramatically as he leaned me back into a dip where Isadora was waiting to kiss my cheek. I couldn't help but laugh at the coordination the two had. "I am a fantastic dancer," Emmett said spinning me through the room. "Just ask, Munchkin."
"You have brainwashed the poor girl into thinking you do no wrong," I teased smiling widely down at Isadora who was doing a victory dance for landing a kiss on my cheek. It was her touchdown dance really. Emmett had taught her and it was both equally dorky and cute.
Her little legs curled in and out awkwardly and she pointed her fingers in the air while bobbing her head. Her face was what really pulled the whole dance together, squinched to perfection in what Emmett called her intimidation face though the large smile on her lips sort of ruined the affect. That and Edward scaring the daylights out of her when he came up behind her lifting her up and turning her so she could dance with him.
With Isadora distracted, Emmett leaned in closer to me, his mouth right next to my ear. "I can actually dance well, you know." I could hear the smirk in his voice. "It's very impressive, I just doubt you would be able to hold yourself back from jumping me and, well, we are in the presence of minors. I didn't want to scar her innocent mind."
"My own personal Fred Astaire." I whispered to him with a smile.
"Baby, I AM Fred Astaire."
I snorted out a laugh and stared up into his deep hazel eyes. His smile was pulled up, making his eyes squint slightly. They were shining with joy while his perfect lips barely parted, just showing a little glimmer of his perfectly white teeth. He was absolutely one of the best looking men I have ever seen, and from our rendezvous last night, I also knew that he was very talented at a wide variety of things. I really hit the jack pot.
"You'll have to show me sometime," I said with a smile never once taking my eyes away from his. "You know, when there aren't people around inhibiting my pouncing."
He leaned down then, lowering his lips gently to mine in a sweet, quick kiss. Yup, I wasn't going to screw this up.
Edward's POV:
I turned Isadora so her back was facing Rose and Emmett when I watched Emmett lean down to kiss Rose, knowing the little girl would giggle and start singing to herself about the two of them kissing. I didn't want to ruin the moment for the two.
Apparently they had legitimized their relationship last night, though I figured as much when Rose hadn't come home. Isadora had climbed into my bed early this morning when Esme brought her home, cuddling up next to me and falling asleep quickly. Esme greeted me from my bedroom door, and said her goodbye in the same instance, not wanting me to get up and disturb my daughter. As much as I liked it, I probably would have to get her used to sleeping in her own bed throughout the night. But I wouldn't worry about that for awhile.
I was happy for the two of them. They were good for each other, and Rose deserved a good guy like Emmett after all she had been put through this past year. That and Emmett needed a girl that could keep him in his place. Rose was perfect for the position.
When Isadora finally woke up for the day, she couldn't stop talking about Bella. Everything reminded her of Bella, and in turn made my need to see the woman I had kissed only the night before all the more urgently. I wanted to at least wait a day before calling her and asking her to lunch or dinner, or anything for that matter, as long as I got to see her. It was pathetic, but in all fairness, Isadora wasn't helping my resolve.
It only took until around nine this morning to be convinced that I should extend an invitation to have Bella join Isadora and I for lunch. Then, it only took me an hour of stalling before working up the courage to call her. It all seemed very juvenile to me as flashbacks of high school, and dating popped through my mind.
Of course that all seemed to work out better than I ever expected in the end, and soon I would get to see Bella's lovely face, hopefully not marred by frustration from that insuperable woman who stole her away from me this afternoon.
Rose's POV:
I pulled myself away from Emmett's arms when I realized that my will power was dwindling. Edward didn't need to see me lay a big, sexually-fueled kiss on his brother in the middle of his living in front of both him and his daughter. Blood-related or not, I doubted he wanted to see that. Instead I pulled away from his arms and went to grab myself a beer. Emmett was still nursing his first beer, having been too busy dancing to swig it down quickly like he would normally. I on the other hand was onto beer number two.
Edward put Isadora back on the ground as a new song came on overhead, and they all flailed around like crazy people. It was embarrassing in the best kind of way. I stood in the end of the entry way right off the kitchen just watching.
Tanya would have loved to see how well Edward was doing at being a father, and what a great family Isadora was getting out of having him in her life. She would be proud beyond belief of her beautiful daughter for being so strong through all of this and so proud of Edward for being so amazing about everything. And I know she would be happy about me finding a guy like Emmett. I swiped away the single tear that slipped down my cheek and smiled at the thought of Tanya somehow seeing how amazing things were turning out.
A light knock sounded behind me, sounding timid. It had to be the lawyer. I probably wasn't giving the woman enough credit. I mean she seemed nice enough but I am hugely defensive of Tanya and Isadora and for her to ask Edward to get a blood test to make sure he was the father just irked me. Still, I understood it was her job, but that didn't mean I had to like it.
I walked down the hall to the door, pulling it open to reveal none other the Bella. She looked up when I opened the door, smiling largely until she realized who was actually at the door. Her smile faltered slightly, but she caught it quickly. I appreciated the attempt to not look intimidated even if she hadn't pulled it off very well. I smiled at her, and she swallowed hard. I must make her nervous.
I felt kind of bad.
She looked at me for a few more seconds with wide eyes. "Hi. Is Edward here?" she asked timidly. I smiled wider and nodded motioning for her to come in.
"Him, Emmett and Isadora are dancing at the moment," I said with a chuckle. I heard her laugh but it sounded too nervous to be real. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Yeah, please," she sighed out as she smoothed her hair back away from her face. "A beer would be great."
I nodded, liking her more knowing that she didn't call for special frilly drinks in order to consume alcohol. I made my way into the kitchen ahead of her, and came back out to see her stopped where I was only moments before she arrived, watching as the men made fools of themselves while they danced with Isadora. She had an amused smile pulled across her face, her attention moving between the three but landing mostly on Edward and Isadora.
Edward, really, was doing more laughing than anything, which in turn was making Isadora giggle more than anything so really Emmett was the only one making a fool of himself. The song overhead was more ridiculous than any I had heard, singing about station wagons and wood paneling and Emmett shook awkwardly with the fast beat of the music.
"Emmett had a CD of songs he deemed Oscar-worthy which really means they're awkward and barely able to be called music," I explained as I handed Bella a cold beer. "He thought he needed to share it with us, Isadora in particular. He thought she would get a kick out of it."
"That's sweet of him," she said, smiling as she took her drink. "She seems to enjoy it, so mission accomplished I suppose," she giggled once, her cheeks flooded red with the noise. "Sorry."
"Don't be," I said, unsure of what to think of Edward lawyer girlfriend. She was nice, obviously, and seemed shy, and she had to be smart to be a lawyer, right? She probably wasn't too bad; I would just have to get past my prejudice so I might actually get to know her. "I have been laughing most of the night too. It's hard not to."
I looked back over to the dance party just as Isadora spotted us. "BEWWA!!!!!" she screeched excitedly, taking off towards us.
Edward's head popped up at her name, his eyes wide and expectant and a content smile pulling at his lips when he watched Isadora run into the arms of the woman. Oh, yeah, he was in deep. Completely twitterpated.
Bella's beer was resting on the counter behind me now as she knelt down laughing, to pick Isadora up into a hug. "Hey, princess. Did you have a good day after you left my work?" Isadora nodded happily staring straight into Bella's eyes.
It scared me to see Isadora so attached to someone who wasn't guaranteed to be around very long, though I suppose that none of us are guaranteed to be around very long. Tanya was proof enough of that.
Bella's POV:
Work wasn't so bad after Jasper took care of the insane woman. I was actually rather relieved to not have to deal with her anymore.
I thought I was about to hyperventilate when Rose answered the door. I am neither blind nor stupid. The woman had numerous reasons not to like me, and though most weren't fair or valid I understood them all.
Not only was I the person who told Edward to get a DNA test, I am now also the woman dating Edward, Isadora's father, and there by integrating my life into the little girl's. I know from what Edward has told me that Rose is very protective of Isadora, and I know how close she was of her late sister.
I calmed when the smile she showed me didn't seem forced, and grew more and more comfortable as she spoke to me, offering me a drink. She seemed surprised when I asked for a beer, I'm sure because she expected me to drink like Alice. Nothing but fruity drinks that were so diluted that you couldn't taste the alcohol. Though, I didn't exactly drink beer because I liked the taste, I still preferred it to its fruity counterparts.
Rose left to get my drink before I even made it the end of the hall of the entry way. The house smelled like oven-cooked pizza and laughter filtered down the hallway. It was nice. Very homey and comforting.
The room was warm and open, and pictures hung around instead of fancy art, or paintings. From what I could tell most were of Isadora, Emmett, and what I would assume was their parents. Rose and a woman that looked almost just like her but with redder hair took up another bunch of pictures. It must be Tanya.
All thoughts of Rose and pictures all but vanished when I came to an opening to the long hall, to see Emmett's large body wiggling around in strange jerky motions while Edward and Isadora laughed and danced away from him. They looked like a happy family.
Edward had a hold of Isadora's hands, lifting them above her so he could pull her away from Emmett when he would come towards them by whisking her through the air. While they were waiting for Emmett to dance their way, they danced in place together.
Edward looked good. His usual button up shirt was replaced by what looked like an old Doors concert tee and his jeans hugged his butt nicely, a feature of his I had noticed and grown to thoroughly appreciate on our walk to and from lunch today. The way his hair hung limply, and messily around his eyes as he stared down at his daughter and the smile that looked so genuine and loving as he watched her dance. The whole picture laid in front of me was made for a hallmark card, if not in an unorthodox kind of way.
"Emmett had a CD of songs he deemed Oscar-worthy which really means they're awkward and barely able to be called music," Rose said as she came around the corner, from what I could only guess was the kitchen. She was smiling fondly at the mention of Emmett. I hoped that would work out if it hadn't already. "He thought he needed to share it with us, Isadora in particular. He thought she would get a kick out of it."
"That's sweet of him," I said as I took the opened beer Rose offered me. It hadn't gone unnoticed how Emmett seemed to spoil the little girl. She was probably the most loved child I have ever seen. "She seems to be enjoying it, so mission accomplished I suppose." A giggle escaped my lips, embarrassing me when I saw Rose notice. My cheeks heated slowly as I covered my mouth. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Rose said as she stared at me as though she was sizing me up, but it didn't seem either in a hostile or negative way. Just curious. I hoped that she could look past the advice I was obligated to give Edward as his lawyer and try to get to know me, especially since she was so important to Isadora and therefore Edward's life. She smiled then, her amused tone reappearing. "I have been laughing most of the night too. It's hard not to."
"BEWWA!!!!!" I smiled when I looked back over at the sound of my name coming from one of my favorite little girls who was currently coming towards me at top speeds.
Isadora was smiling widely, running towards me with her arms open. I quickly put my drink on the counter behind Rose and knelt down to intercept the little girl flying towards me and was almost knocked over on impact. I grunted slightly when she barreled into me, but still held my smile.
Isadora giggled freely, making me laugh in response as I hugged her tightly, my bad day washing away into a distant memory. I stood, still holding Isadora though I doubt I would have made it far without her with the way she held my neck in a vice grip. She was a strong three-year-old. Her curly hair twisted up at strange angles, terminally messy just like her fathers, tickling my face where it touched. Her cheeks were pink probably from dancing around the living room for so long.
"When did you get here?" Edward asked, slightly out of breath, hair hanging in his eyes. I reached out and swiped it away smiling the whole time. He grabbed my hand before I could bring it back to myself, and kissed it the inside of it. "Did you find the place alright?"
"Yeah, it was pretty easy to find actually, and don't worry I haven't been here long. I ran a little late at work, that why I'm kind of late." I laughed as Isadora kissed my cheek and wiggled down my side and back onto the floor. Edward was smiling fondly at the exchange. "I've been here just long enough to see people dancing to songs about station wagons."
I swear I saw a light brushing of red tint Edward's cheeks but it was probably just wishful thinking. I watched as Isadora ran over to Emmett who I now realized was beckoning to her with Rose at his side. I got the strange feeling that they were trying to give Edward and me a little privacy. I smiled at Emmett in appreciation, and he winked back confirming my thoughts.
"Was work horrible after I left?" Edward asked tucking a stray wisp of hair behind my ear. I remembered then how worried he looked before he and Isadora left me after lunch.
"It was . . . frustrating," I said, as I walked a step closer to him, putting us only inches apart. I wasn't sure where my courage was coming from, but at the moment I felt at home with Edward. I wasn't so nervous, just thankful and amazed that he could possibly be interested in me. He smiled down at me, apparently liking the closer proximity though his eyes held concern as if asking me to continue with my story. "Mrs. Holstein, the woman who came barging in cutting my lunch short, well she was the one I told you about at lunch." He nodded, grazing his finger along my cheek bone before cupping his hand to fit my cheek. I leaned into his touch and smiled. He kept his hand resting against my cheek a few seconds longer then would be normal, and I stayed leaning into it, comforted by it, before I continued. "She came back in to drop me as her lawyer, stating differences in opinion as her reason, though her main request was that Jasper take her case."
"I knew I didn't like that woman," Edward huffed, his eyebrows pulling together in what looked like a mix of annoyance and anger. I lifted my hand and smoothed his brow before continuing. There was no need for him to give himself wrinkles over such a silly matter.
"I am actually quite pleased I don't have to deal with her or her fuzzy purse anymore." I smiled taking his hand as he smiled down looking into my eyes. Oh, yes, I was falling hard for this man. "Jasper took her case under the understanding that any flirting or unnecessary bending over to show cleavage wouldn't be acceptable. Needless to say, she was quite taken aback by that, but then she got down right huffy when Jasper told her that if so much as a single negative word was uttered to or about me he would drop her case and she would have to find new representation. He saved me from the hag."
"A cause for celebration." Edward smiled wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me against him. "I'm glad you made it over."
"I'm glad too."
Emmett's POV:
It was hard to keep my eyes away from Rose. Her soft, full, pouty lips were calling to me and her legs looked even better now that I knew what it was like to have them wrapped around me. She was too gorgeous to be healthy for me, but I didn't care. The woman was mine now, and I was never going to let her go.
She was amazing with Isadora. I loved watching the two together, how they interacted. Isadora was so in love with Rose it was insane. I joke that I am Isadora's favorite, but I don't hold a candle next to Rose and Edward. That girl may have them wrapped around her finger, but she would probably do anything to make Rose or Edward proud of her.
She is always going on about having to save pictures she draws to show her 'daddy' or 'Auntie Rose.' She always has to show them when she comes up with new dance moves or any new trick. They are the ones she runs to when she is sad, though that doesn't happen often, or when she is tired. They are her comfort, and vice-versa.
Watching Isadora in Rose's lap, inspecting the movie we would soon be watching with Izzy, made me think about the future. How would Rose look holding a blonde, curly haired little girl or boy with their mom's good looks and their dad dashing personality. I smiled at myself, amused. It was a nice thing to think about. I was completely serious about Rose, no matter how early it was in the relationship.
Bella and Edward were still over by the kitchen talking. It was crazy how much he lit up when he heard Isadora yell her name. He was smiling already, but man, he actually smiled wider when he saw her. He was falling just as hard for her as I was for Rose, though I doubted it was quite as hard as I have fallen for Rose.
Nothing could compare to that.
Still, Bella seemed just as into Edward as he was with her and she was great with Isadora. The kid wouldn't shut up about her and Edward's lunch date with Bella, and their attempts to woo her. The little girl took to the woman so naturally that it had to be right. They made a nice little family.
"Daddy, can we watch my movie now?" Isadora asked, yelling over to Edward. "Pwease."
"A movie?" came Bella's voice in exaggerated excitement that Izzy ate up. Munchkin just smiled and nodded animatedly. "What movie is it?"
Bella came over and sat on the couch across from us, staring straight at Isadora. "Beauty and Beast." Izzy held the movie case up to show her.
"I love that movie," Bella said, smiling wider. She was completely genuine, even when she hammed it up for Izzy. "It's probably one of my favorites."
"ME TOO!!!!" Isadora agreed, hopping from Rose's lap to run over to Bella.
I looked over at Rose, wondering how she was taking it having her niece run to someone else so readily. It had to be weird for her, especially when, really, if things worked out with Edward and his hot lawyer, Bella would be Izzy's new mommy. Rose didn't even flinch, instead she just nuzzled back into me, sighing as she breathed in heavily.
Edward came in then, setting down a stack of paper plates and a steaming pizza on the coffee table. He had a pre-cut piece of pizza, diced into small pieces on top of the rest of the plates for Isadora and an old sheet to lay out under her since she tended to be messy when she ate. Isadora liked sitting on the blanket to eat. She enjoyed pretending she was on a picnic.
"Bewwa, have a picnic wiff me." Isadora tugged on Bella's arm trying to pull her form the couch and onto the floor. "Pwease."
"Sure," Bella said, smiling happily as she scooted down to the floor. Edward went to protest but Bella waved him off. It looked like she was used to waving off his worries like that.
Edward backed off, instead opting to put a piece of pizza on a plate for Bella, and put it near her on the coffee table. Isadora was sitting on Bella's lap, as she sat cross legged while Isadora hummed as she ate. Edward scooted down the couch, closer to Bella, but stopped before he lost view of both Isadora and her.
Soon the lights went down, and the movie was turned on. As the first song started to play I heard a whisper of singing and looked over to see Bella singing along with the movie, while helping Isadora do the same. Isadora looked more than impressed with Bella as she stared smiling at her with wide, adoring eyes. Bella helped as Izzy tried to sing along with her.
Edward watched from the sidelines, all smiles.
(A.N. Alright now it's time to review! It easy and quick and I really do appreciate it! Also I have songs from Emmett's famed CD on the play list so check it out!!!! Also anybody have any movies you want the grown ups to watch after Isadora goes to bed? Well tell me!)
